The angel leader looked at the loot with envy in his eyes but managed a twitching smile. “Congratulations on the sweet loot. It is quite something, but I am a man of my word and the monster’s drops are yours.” “I honestly expected you to kill us, it’s good to see that people can keep their word.” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey Donzo go pick up the drops from the other players before anyone else makes off with it.” He said looking at the human rouge, who quickly began to collect the items.

The loot that lay before James was more than he could have asked for. A pile of gold that the system said was 5,000 gold, some pelts and black hide armor, a small data crystal, and greatest of all, a chest. James quickly picked up the chest, pelts, and gold stuffing it in his inventory. He changed out his beginner armor for the hide and picked up the data crystal.

“Hey TouchMe, do mind if I…” making a throwing motion toward the leader with the hand that held the crystal. “I’ll let you decide you got the kill; we are splitting the gold, right?” “Of course. Hey team leader!” The frowning angel who had been watching the rouge collet the dead players loot suddenly snapped his head toward James. “Catch.” Was all he said as he tossed the small data crystal to him. The man was so shocked he nearly did not catch it, fumbling it and nearly dropping it even then.

A single question plastered across his face, “Why?” “You gave me the boost I needed; I wouldn’t have done so well without your help.” The angel replied, “Thank you do you guys want to keep going?” “Thanks, but no thanks, I don’t know about him, but I have to get to town and log off, I have a party to go to.”

(I forgot to mention the party in an earlier chapter, do not worry about it.)

James pulled up his console and exited the party. Before he forgot he opened his inventory and a bag of 2.5k gold and some hides appeared in his hands. “I’ll see you guys later; remember you owe me two now Touch.” He said setting down the items then lifting off the ground looking to TouchMe holding out the peace sign, “Always be the good people you were today.” Were his last words before jetting off toward town the voices of the others quickly fading behind him.

A minute later he got two friend requests, one from TouchMe and the other from Callister? Oh, that must have been the Leader angels name…I forgot to ask his name. James was livid that he had done such a thing. He would be sure to make it up to him later. He quickly accepted the friend requests before landing at the city gates and quickly finding an inn to log off in.

He took off his head set and quickly made himself presentable. Looking at his phone, “Shit gotta hurry or I’m going to be late.” James walked out his door and toward the apartment building on the other side of the lake, he thought about driving but did not have a car. “Damn why do I have to carpool? I’m going to be so late.”

By the time he arrived the party was well under way. He knocked on the door only to be meet by a shorter Asian man who he remembered from his office but whose name he had not had the chance to learn. He seemed to have had a little too much to drink already. “Hey James! Look everybody James is here!” The tipsy man said loudly.

No sooner had the man made the announcement the voice of another man could be heard. “Everyone if I may have your attention, in case you missed it, the man we have all been waiting for has finally arrived! Let us have a round of applause for James!” Said the man in is early 30’s whose name was Kusanagi Fukashima. James looked at all the smiling faces accompanied by the sound of dozens of people. James just smiled his heart warmed as he recognized everyone in this room as someone he had helped over the last week.

Kusanagi approached him with two champagne glasses in hand and offered him one. “Sorry I don’t drink.” “Ah come on live a little you’ve earned it.” “I’m fine, hey have you seen Subaru around I need to talk to him?” “Yeah he’s over there trying to hit on your girl.” Kusanagi pointing to one of the apartments corners. James’ eyes went wide, he blushed and quickly making his way toward where Kusanagi had pointed.

He arrived just in time to see Subaru get slapped by Reo. He quickly grabbed Subaru by the arm telling him, “Come on Subaru you and I have to talk.” Turning to Reo with a warm smile, “I’ll be back in just a moment.” She returned his smile saying, “Don’t keep me waiting too long…” She took a sip of her drink then began walking toward a group of women near the window, swaying her hips as she walked.

James was entranced for a moment before refocusing on the matter at hand. “Subaru, I need to talk to about a rumor I heard.” “You’re not mad I was hitting on Reo?” “If she had reciprocated you, I would have been fine with it. She is not mine. She is her own women. Anyway, I heard you were working on the powered armor update for Yggdrasil.”

Subaru who up to that point was acting almost drunk, suddenly appeared to sober up, looking around and then dragging him to an empty corner of the room. “How did you hear about that, no one but my group is supposed to know.” “Oh, I know your boss and he mentioned it to me, because I’m a friend of the CEO Mr. Takahashi.” “You never told me that! How do you know him?”

“He is a friend of my father. My father put in a good word for me and after I graduated Mr. Takahashi gave me a call, the rest is history as they say.” “That’s amazing, so why and what do you want to know about the Power Armor project?”

“I love mechs and power armor, I have all my life. Those things are very popular right now, and who do you think got the project going?” James said with a knowing smile. Subaru looked confused for a moment, only for him to finally realize. “You! You did it?”

“Yep. I mentioned the popularity of mechs and power armor right now to Mr. Takahashi. He mentioned he had already been considering the idea, and that since I had recommended it, he said he would push the project through. So, a dozen hours and many calls later of flushing out the details, here you are. When I suggested the project, Takahashi offered to make me head of it, but I had to refuse. I recommended Takeda for the job and said even though I do not want to be the head of the project I will still help them out.”

By the time that James was done with his little speech Subaru had to clench his jaw lest it fall open again. James patted Subaru on the shoulder, “See you tomorrow.” The proceeded to meet up with Reo. Though he did not drink he had a good time with Reo at the party.

By the time the party was winding down, James and Reo had already take her car back to her place. He parked the car, carried Reo to her front door, unlocked the front door and remembering to lock her car clicked the button, with the honk he went inside, and laid her out on her bed where she tried and succeeded with cuddling him.

But before he could say no to something more, she was already asleep and gently snoring. He pulled a blanket over her form, positioned her head over the side of the bed in case she throw up, went to the kitchen, and came back to place a glass of water on her nightstand. It was late however, so he retired to her couch. This night he dreamt of eagles, power armor, and the red, white, and blue.